196 < ASTRATION OF STALLIONS. 



or similar piece of round wood against the animal's left thigh in 

 order to prevent it kicking the operator. The clam was applied 

 over the uncovered spermatic cord and fastened with a leather ring, 

 which was slipped over the conical end. This obviated the some- 

 what tiresome necessity for tying. 



In England, castration in the standing position is now largely 

 practised. Griffith describes the operation as follows : — An assistant 

 stands at the animal's left side, with his right shoulder against the 

 animal's left. A second assistant holds and hands the necessary 

 instruments. 



The operator, who also stands on the animal's left side, slips his 

 left hand along the animal's abdomen as far as the scrotum, grasps 

 the right testicle, and draws it down to the bottom of the scrotum, 

 which is immediately opened by an incision with the right hand 

 from before backwards. He then discards the knife. The left 

 hand at once grasps the protruding testicle and draws it backwards, 

 whilst the right hand passes the open clam between the hind limbs 

 and slips it from behind forwards over the spermatic cord. There- 

 upon the left hand seizes the free ends of the clam and presses them 

 together. As soon as it has been ascertained by means of the right 

 hand that only the spermatic cord, and not a portion of the scrotum 

 is included in the clam, the latter is grasped with special forceps 

 and firmly pressed together. The front ends are then secured with 

 string and the testicle cut away. The left testicle is removed in a 

 similar way. Griffith states having thus castrated 140 horses, 

 varying in age from one to twelve years, during the course of one 

 summer, without any noteworthy mishap. In practising the standing 

 operation too much restraint is not advisable, and the operator should 

 not press or lean against the horse's flank as this may cause the 

 horse to crouch or fall. 



Abroad it is usual to cast the horse for castration on the left side, 

 the feet and hind quarters being somewhat higher than the body, 

 though the dorsal position also has advocates. The right hind limb 

 is drawn forward until the hoof is in contact with the animal's chest 

 and the whole limb is somewhat abducted, and is then secured. It 

 must not, however, be drawn too far forwards ; on the other hand, 

 should it not be drawn sufficiently far the operator may be injured 

 by the point of the hock. This limb should not be fastened too 

 tightly, as otherwise the animal may make violent extension move- 

 ments, the resistance to which may cause fracture. It is preferable 

 to pass a piece of webbing around the fetlock and hoof, and fix the 

 limb in a position of plantar flexion. 



